Author: Mohamamd Hashim Qasmi Bastawi
Zakat is an important pillar of Islam. Like prayer, Fasting, and Pilgrimage, zakat is a purely financial act of worship. What is zakat? What is its status in Islam? What is nisab? Who is obligated to pay zakat? What is the Nisab for gold, Silver, Cash, and Trade goods? We have already explained each of these; you can read about them by clicking on the internal links. In this article, we will try to understand the deserving recipients of zakat.
The recipients of zakat Allah has been declared in Surah At Taubah:
Allah says:
{إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ } [التوبة: 60]
The compulsory alms are only for the poor and the needy and the agents employed therein and those whose hearts are to be conciliated and those in bondage and debtors and for expenditure in the way of Allah and for the wayfarer: an ordinance from Allah: and Allah is knowing, wise[Surah At-Tawbah: 60].
According to this verse, there are a total of eight recipients of Zakat Zakat, which are as follows:
(1) Al Fuqara الفقراء: The poor
(2) Al Masakeen المساكين: The needy
(3)Al Amileen العاملين: Those who collect Zakat and charity on behalf of the government
(4) Muallafatul Quloob مؤلفة القلوب: That of people whose hearts are to be won, meaning new Muslims
(5) Al Gharimeen الغارمين: Debtors
(6)Arriqaab الرقاب: To free slaves, Now this category is no longer necessary.
(7) Ibnussabeel ابن السبيل: Travelers, Wayfarer
(8) Fi Sabilillah في سبيل الله:
Who is the poor and needy?
There is, though, difference of opinion about the real meaning of “Faqir” and “Miskin”. A “faqir” is one who has nothing while a “Miskin” is one who has less than the Nisab. But, they remain the same under the injunction of Zakah. No difference exists there.
Some Details About Aamileen:
In the present era, the Islamic Madarsas and other Islamic organizations that appoint individuals for the collection of Zakat, although they are not formally classified as ‘Aamilin’ (those who collect Zakat and Sadqaat), since the work and objective are the same, where there is no Islamic government and no Bayt-ul-Mal (the Islamic treasury), the individuals collecting Zakat can also be regarded at the level of ‘Aamilin’, and their salaries can be paid from Zakat funds. This is also the opinion of Mufti Kifayatullah Sahib Dehlavi (Kifayat ul-Mufti: 4/269, Answer No: 341).
Summary of the eight recipients of zakat:
In any case, when we consider these eight categories of Zakat, it becomes evident that there are fundamentally two objectives of Zakat: one is to fulfill the needs of the poor and needy, and the second is to uplift Islam. In the way of Allah (في سبيل الله) and to strengthen the hearts of the people (مؤلفة القلوب) intended for the upliftment of Islam, while the remaining categories are primarily intended to fulfill the first need. (Extracted from “Aasan Tafseer” by Khalid Saifullah Rahmani with deletions and additions)
May Allah grant all wealthy Muslims the ability to pay their Zakat sincerely and completely, free from any showoff. Ameen.


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